Roxanna Senyshyn, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and Communication Arts & Sciences, Early Childhood/Elementary Education
Sutherland, 320B

Dr. Roxanna Senyshyn, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics and Communication Arts and Sciences and coordinator of ESL certification at Abington College. She teaches courses in English as a second language education, applied linguistics, and intercultural communication. Her teaching has been recognized by Penn State Abington College Faculty Senate with Outstanding Teaching awards in 2023 and in 2017. Her current research focus is on transformative intercultural learning in preservice teacher education and the professional development of teachers throughout their careers as they prepare to work with linguistically and culturally diverse learners. The other strands of her research have centered on English learners in higher education with an emphasis on second-language writing and the socio-linguistic integration of international students. Her work has been published in academic journals including Intercultural Education, Journal for Multicultural Education, and Journal of Transformative Education, among others. Beyond academia, Dr. Senyshyn engages with school districts in her region to provide crucial professional development opportunities for teachers. She also has been an advocate for bilingual education and served on the Pennsylvania Department of Education task force that brought the Seal of Biliteracy to Pennsylvania. Additionally, she is actively involved in heritage language community-based education programs and serves as vice president of the Ukrainian Heritage School Board in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. 

Featured News

Abington announces faculty and staff awards

Abington Faculty Spotlight: Roxanna Senyshyn meets needs of diverse learners

Selected Awards and Grants:

Outstanding Teaching Award (2023), Penn State Abington 

Curriculum Internationalization Grant (2022), Penn State Abington 

Chancellor’s Grant (2019), Penn State Abington 

Faculty Development Grant (2019), Penn State Abington 

Center for Intercultural Leadership and Communication (CILC) Grant (2018), Penn State Abington

Outstanding Teaching Award (2017), Penn State Abington

Summer Faculty Fellowship (2017), Penn State Abington

Faculty Development Grant (2015-2016; 2016-2017), Penn State Abington

Summer Faculty Fellowship (2014), Penn State Abington

Diversity Initiatives Grant (2003), Visiting Scholar, Salus University

P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (2000-2002), Graduate studies, University of Tennessee

U.S. - Ukraine Foundation Grant (Summer 1997), Visiting Scholar, Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University

U.S. Information Agency Grant (1996-1997), Visiting Scholar, Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP), University of Tennessee

U.S. Information Agency Grant (Fall 1995), Visiting Scholar, Wayne State University and University of Michigan

U.S. Agency for International Development Grant (Summer 1994), Translator/Interpreter, Management Training Program, Research Triangle Institute

Selected Publications:

Senyshyn, R.M. (2024). Immigrant families and communities as agents of interculturality in pre-service teacher education. In A.F. Selvi and C. Kocaman (Eds.), International Perspectives on Critical English Language Teacher Education: Theory and Practice (pp. 229-235). New York, NY: Bloomsbury Publishing. 

Senyshyn, R. M. (2023). Translanguaging as transformation: the collaborative construction of new linguistic realities. Language and Intercultural Communication, 23(1), 140-142. 

Senyshyn, R. M. (2021). Navigating linguistic and cultural identities: (Re)positioning oneself through critical awareness. In A. F. Selvi and B. Yazan (Eds.), Language teacher education for Global Englishes: A practical resource book (pp. 188-196). New York, NY: Routledge. 

Senyshyn, R.M. & Martinelli, A. (2021). Learning to support and sustain cultural (and linguistic) diversity: Perspectives of preservice teachers. Journal for Multicultural Education 15(1). 20-37.

Senyshyn, R. M. (2020). Transformative intercultural learning: Research to practice in teacher education. In C.E. Poteau (Ed.), Pedagogical Approaches to Intercultural Competence Development (151-173). Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. 

Senyshyn, R. M. (2019). A first-year seminar course that supports the transition of international students to higher education and fosters the development of intercultural communication competence. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 48(2), 150–170. 

Senyshyn, R. M., & Smith, P. (2019). Global Awareness Dialogue Project: Exploring potential for faculty transformation through professional development. Journal of Transformative Education 17(4), 318–336. 

Senyshyn, R. (2019). Facilitating Transformative Intercultural Learning. TESOL Connections. http://http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolc/issues/2019-02-01/3.html

Senyshyn, R.M. (2018). Teaching for transformation: Converting intercultural experience of preservice teachers into intercultural learning, Intercultural Education, 29(2), 163-184.

Senyshyn, R.M. (2018). Facilitating preservice teachers’ transformation through intercultural learning: Reflections from a self-study. In J. Sharkey & M. M. Peercy (Eds.), Self-study of language and literacy teacher education practices: Culturally and linguistically diverse contexts (pp.167-184). London: Emerald Group Publishing.

Chamberlin-Quinlisk, C. R., & Senyshyn, R. (2012). Language teaching and intercultural education: Making critical connections. Intercultural Education, 23(1), 15-23.

Senyshyn, R.M., & Chamberlin-Quinlisk, C.R. (2009).  Assessing effective partnerships in intercultural education: Transformative learning as a tool for evaluation. Communication Teacher, 23(4), 167-178.

Senyshyn, R.M.  (2001). Learning cross-cultural competencies: Implications for international management education.  Perspectives in Higher Education Reform.  Proceedings of the 11th Annual International Conference of Alliance of Universities for Democracy, Volume 10, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Senyshyn, R.M., Warford, M., & Zhan, J.  (2000). Academic and non-academic issues of adjustment to American higher education.  Journal of International Education, 30(1) 17-35.

Senyshyn, R.M.  (2000). Strategies for teaching culture in Business English.  Publication of Proceedings of the World Congress of Applied Linguistics, Tokyo, Japan.

Senyshyn, R.M.  (2000). Designing a course in intercultural communication. Perspectives in Higher Education Reform.  Proceedings of the 10th Annual International Conference of Alliance of Universities for Democracy, Volume 9, Budapest, Hungary.

Recent Conference Presentations:

Senyshyn, R.M. (July 2023). Amplifying newcomer (English learner) voices in teaching and learning. International Academy for Intercultural Research, Philadelphia, PA (in-person). 

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2023). Local community as a resource for intercultural engagement and learning in teacher education. American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Portland, OR, (in-person). 

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2023). Embedding diverse children’s literature in pre-service teacher education. TESOL International Convention, Portland, OR, (in-person). 

Senyshyn, R.M. (September 2022). Developing and teaching interculturality with diverse children’s literature. International Association for Languages and Intercultural Communication (AILIC) annual conference, Lisbon, PORTUGAL, (in-person). 

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2022). Penal Organizer and Moderator: Intersections of interculturality and multimodality: Perspectives and possibilities, an academic session of Culture and Intercultural Communication strand. TESOL International Convention, Pittsburg, PA, (in-person). 

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2022). Identity and World/Global Englishes in teacher education: Perspectives and possibilities. TESOL International Convention, Pittsburg, PA, (in-person). 

Senyshyn, R.M. (January 2022). Diverse children’s literature in teacher intercultural development. Intercultural Competence Conference, Tucson, AZ (virtual). 

Senyshyn, R.M. (July 2021). Invited speaker/facilitator, round table discussion: Understanding culturally responsive and sustaining approaches in language education: Perspectives, research, and practice. TESOL Elevate Virtual Conference.

Senyshyn, R.M., & Martinelli, A. (May 2021). Learning to support and sustain cultural and linguistic diversity: Perspectives of preservice teachers. Evidence-based Teaching and Learning, Lilly Conferences. Virtual.

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2021). Panel organizer and moderator, Exploring "good writing" and complexities of cultural and linguistic comparisons," ICIS and SLW invited intersection panel, TESOL International Convention, Virtual.

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2021). Panelist, Good interculturality: Bridging theory, research, and practice. ICIS Academic session, TESOL International Convention. Virtual.

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2021). Invited panelist, International teaching assistant programs and internationalization: A local transformative resource approach. TESOL International Convention. Virtual.

Senyshyn, R. M. (January 2020). Reflecting critically on teaching intercultural communication (competence). International Conference on the Development and Assessment of Intercultural Competence, Tucson, AZ. 

Senyshyn, R. M. (March 2019). The assessment of intercultural competence development in teacher education. TESOL International Convention, Atlanta, GA.  

Senyshyn, R. M. (March 2019). Reflexive practice in intercultural learning. TESOL International Convention, Atlanta, GA. 

Senyshyn, R. M., Balyasnikova, N.. & Lapornik, B. (August, 2018). Reflexivity in the making of good interculturalists: Three reflections. Conference of the International Association for Language and Intercultural Communication, Helsinki, Finland.

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2018). Criticality in language education and development of intercultural competence. TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) International Convention, Baltimore, MD.

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2018). Partnerships with international students: How to prepare for intercultural learning. TESOL International Convention, Chicago, IL.

Senyshyn, R.M. (January 2018). Converting intercultural experience into intercultural learning in teacher education. International Conference on the Development and Assessment of Intercultural Competence, Tucson, AZ.

Senyshyn, R.M. (April 2017). Facilitating preservice teachers’ transformation through intercultural learning: Reflections from a self-study. Conference on Language, Learning, and Culture: Enhancing and Advancing Teacher Education, Fairfax, VA.

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2017). Oral Communication in Higher Education Contexts: Closing the Gap, Academic Session sponsored by the Higher Education Interest Section. TESOL International Convention, Seattle, WA.

Senyshyn, R.M., with ACURA (Abington College Undergraduate Research Activity) students. (November 2016). Exploring international students’ perceptions of engagement with American peers. NAFSA (Association of International Educators) Regional Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Senyshyn, R.M. (April 2016). Enhancing college composition for ELLs and assessing its outcomes. TESOL International Convention, Baltimore, MD.

Senyshyn, R.M. & Chamberlin-Quinlisk, C.R. (April 2016). Intercultural studies and teacher education: How far have we come? TESOL International Convention, Baltimore, MD.

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2016). Toward holistic assessment and placement of first-year multilingual students for integrated academic courses. GURT (Georgetown University Round Table) Useful Assessment and Evaluation in Language Education Conference, Washington, D.C.

Arevalo, D., Senyshyn, R.M. & Smith P. (November 2015). The Global Awareness Dialogue Project: Faculty development at Penn State Abington. NAFSA Regional Conference, Arlington, VA.

Senyshyn, R.M. (March 2015). Intercultural partnerships: Fostering interaction and transforming perspectives. TESOL International Convention, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Translations:

Leeds-Hurwitz, W. (2017). Intercultural communication [Translation into Ukrainian]. (R. M. Senyshyn, trans). Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue, 5. Available from:
https://centerforinterculturaldialogue.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/kc5-intercultural-communication_ukrainian.pdf

Golovátina-Mora, P., & Mora, R. A. (2017). Multiculturalism [Translation into Ukrainian]. (R. M. Senyshyn, trans). Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue, 19. Available from:
https://centerforinterculturaldialogue.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/kc19-multiculturalism_ukrainian1.pdf

Arasaratnam, L.A. (2017). Intercultural competence [Translation into Ukrainian]. (R. M. Senyshyn, trans). Key Concepts in Intercultural Dialogue, 3. Available from:
https://centerforinterculturaldialogue.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/kc3-intercultural-competence_ukrainian.pdf

Ph D, ESL and World Language Education, University of Tennessee

APLNG 220N: Multilingual Lives: Stories of Language and Culture Learning 
CI 280: Introduction to Teaching English to English Language Learners
EDUC 466: Foundation of Teaching English as a Second Language
EDUC 469/APLNG 493: English as a Second Language Methods and Assessments
CAS 084/APLNG 083: FYE Seminar on Culture, Language and Communication
CAS 100B: Effective Speech for Multilingual Students
CAS 271: Introduction to Intercultural Communication
CAS 471: Theory and Research in Intercultural Communication
ENGL/ESL 004: Basic Writing for Multilingual Students
ENGL/ESL 015: Rhetoric and Composition for Multilingual Students
ENGL/ESL 202D: Business Writing for Multilingual Students